Jay DeFeo and her Rose

I admire persistence.  I struggle with it as an artist so I am always envious of those artists who clearly stick with an idea and concept until it is perfectly drawn out and feels oh so right.  I still remember hearing about Jay DeFeo and her Rose during my undergraduate studies.  She spent 7 years on ONE painting.

I thought DeFeo was out of her mind.  What does an artist do when they only have one work to show for all her efforts?  How do you get into an art show or a gallery?  How do you "make it" as a professional artist? These were the thoughts that bolted through my mind. I was jealous of DeFeo because she certainly didn't seem to have these concerns.  She was simply making art.  She was drawn to paint on a canvas over and over again and so that's what she did.

Jay DeFeo in front of The Rose (image source: rehistoricizing.org)

What goes through your mind when you look at The Rose? 

Does the length of time spent creating the work change your outlook about it? 

What does the word persistence mean to you either as an artist or a viewer?